NURSE KERR

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1933, Page 5

NURSE KERR

SIX Y£AKS’ GAOL

JUDGE PBASSES THE POLICE. 1 ' ■ ./•*'■ . ■ ; l Pet Press Association — Copyright.) • AUCKLAND) May 27.’’ ' Addressing the Judge before the sen-' tencing of 1 Nurse Ivorr,: Jlr K. Singer, chief counsel, said he still cherished an uncomfortable foaling pf’ doubt jn this case. He only hoped ithat his personal apprehension and ; discomfort might be unjustified, and that irrevocable harm might.not have bef'n done., ‘T still, feel mid ajyfoys .shall that however demonscratably innocent. Mrs Kerr hay have' bfeen, she could never have had a fair clian'QO; 1 ;, Hq" was condemned before evqr she set.her; foot in the clock,” he said. V J • Mr Singer made an eloquent appeal;, for leniency, urging particularly that the deaths of -Mr-Kerr and Mrs. Day should not. be taken into consideration. He concluded : “Nor should; any- defects of her advocate Weigh (with the Court., It doubtless ; is true;that advocacy was lacking in, grave- respects, that fit might-jilaye ' mofo .in-

genious and mofe .subsdi'vlent, blit wo are what we are arid critieism -is Wijr after the finale, I at any rato do not feel that I have done- aught but in ii compietc -.desire :,.fo(-s«rve -t.bdf.intc rests of iiiy folientl’Ycf ■ -v; : f- .v. ; JUDGE’S Pound guilty fhfthe Supfojpe.'Court, yesterdayafteh throe foi'als;;;Ni|rse Els,peth Kerr, aged -forty-six years):, who ■'<■ was, charged on folfoee .epunts f - ad- -- ministering poison io ; her foster-child, Betty, was- sentenced by• 'Mr 'Justice Herclman thi? morning to -.six years’ hard labour. The Judge §aid that all poisoning cases" 'were of first rate gravity. .fo

“Had the medical gentlemen ;who in the early stages attended the child not insisted that ..she shOUld, gQ into hospital, the ensuing cqhsequopc.es might have been, more ;seridps' idj'. her; and more serious for. you,’’-said in addressing vjffie prisoner* TV!‘Whehrshe wag beyond your reach' she speedily, ifooove,red;;'fthd\fhhwy'happily) -sßelTs apparently perfectly weßf "With the verdict |of tlfo r lontffo|^;^foe,, v. It is difficult ,fo i see how any/ inßjligqht jurynian who Was hohest' and- had • 'any respect for Tiil" to any: other dejeision.’/; ffo'- 'ft* oF;s£rit£HcE;. * t I • The. Judge also, told U'# prisoner that but ifof the Tact- that she; hadv been in cusfxidV iiearly a■; year 'the . s.ehtppce would; luvye been saven . years, ‘ a {fitting 'punishmfe|t : forvrPlAciVeb'^;.^^-^ cluld.ahi woldd : ; §e?v{e". fowienp., * " r deaths of Mr Keth ‘ and jMrs Day.'^ >. His Honon^4»iji t T|hitJni|bfo;4)pinioh {| there.wap kind g foil the -adverse fcriticism fct»3d upon '>• the ;police prc*seci)tibu,; and: : .the' news- _ v ., pampers. vras v "able ,to w .. Juigje the . .pfolsepiitti'on'j fo.TUJgulons- ■ lyffnir, an'd'tjie ‘pplfoe, - 'under the direc- | tfom of inspector, deserved V a compliment for .thpir ability and efficiency -'in; f'.prepavihg - {(an' extremely A complicated .and unpleasant case.